Romer Gutierrez Jazo, raised by disciplinarian parents Myrna B. Jazo, a primary teacher, and Romulo V. Jazo Jr., engaged in agricultural business and local politics. Thus, he had to behave growing up in a community where everybody knows everybody.
He was born on the 19th of April 1991 in Sorsogon City, Philippines.
Growing Years in the Province.
During his early childhood, Jazo grew up in an agricultural environment. His family cultivated copra and rice. He has two sisters.
At Butag Elementary School, he graduated as the valedictorian of his first-grade class and demonstrated early academic excellence. He was a consistent honor student since his Kindergarten days and even in his primary education. He continued to excel throughout his secondary education. He achieved the honor of being the valedictorian at St. Bonaventure Academy.
In the Bicol region, he earned his popularity for being a genius in Science and Social Studies for his quiz bee competition stints.
In college, he pursued a degree in Marine Transportation at Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation in Rawis Legaspi City. As an individual, he was determined to realize his dreams.
For an impressive seven years, he served as a valuable member of the marine crew on a passenger ship, gaining invaluable experience in the maritime sector.
Relentless in Pursuing His Dreams.
He worked as an apprentice at a local shipping firm, and the following year he joined a German vessel called Aida Vita. Within two years, he transferred to Celebrity Cruises as a Marine personnel to practice his seamanship and aim to be a licensed 3rd Officer.
“I started as an ordinary seaman. I became an AB or Quartermaster after a year. I was the youngest ever to be in that position during that time,” Jazo shared.
In 2019, he made a life-changing decision to relocate to New York.
“I decided to gamble my luck in New York to make my environment new. I felt like life on the ship was repetitive, and I was getting bored.”
He felt that he need to go somewhere to grow some more.
“I had a lot of Thai friends who worked from the ship before and moved to New York, so I sought help if I could get a job.”
He initially took on a role as a bartender at a Thai Restobar in Manhattan, immersing himself in a different industry and expanding his skill set.
“I guess I’m always lucky wherever I went. It was fun six-month working as a bartender and waiting tables in three different Thai restaurants until the COVID-19 pandemic hit the City.”
At that time, he felt he made a mistake coming to the US, but his prayers got answered. A friend of his told him about an opening as a receptionist in a law office owned by a Fil-American immigration lawyer.
A New Life for Him.
Seeking further personal and professional growth, he underwent a two-year training program at a law firm. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, he rose through the ranks to become one of the chiefs of the employment department.
The Lawyer saw potential in him and made him do some cases as a paralegal, and eventually appointed him as an employment manager doing H1B cases for the teachers-clients and school districts who wanted to hire international professionals. After three successive years of doing it, “I leaped to put up my manpower agency concentrating on helping teachers from Asia to have jobs in the USA.”
Motivated by his experiences and the desire to make a positive impact, Jazo established a staffing agency in New York. His agency is dedicated in assisting Filipino teachers in securing positions as licensed educators in American schools, facilitating connections between talented educators and educational institutions.
His entrepreneurial inclination, complemented by his philanthropic initiatives–fuels him to actively engage in community development by helping underprivileged children to gain access to education through the construction of schools in a small province. He also extends support to the Elderly by addressing the needs of the said sector and improving their quality of life.
Currently, he focuses on assisting young individuals by ensuring they have the necessary educational resources to thrive.
To many young individuals thriving in their respective domains in pursuit of their dreams, Jazo’s entrepreneurial journey is a stirring inspiration. He consistently pushes his boundaries. He reshapes industries and gets himself into difficult circumstances to challenge his limits. His strong philanthropic drive and visionary mindset further underscore his commitment to making a lasting impact on the world.
All of these, he offers to his mom.
“It is my tribute to my mother, a teacher, which I knew how hard it is to be one with the kind of salary in the Philippines,” he stressed.
